Make your horse's mane and tail lustrous again with advice from Chloe Casalis de Pury, a nutritional team manager and veterinary surgeon at Dodson & Horrell.

Q: My mare has a short mane and tail and her hair snaps off easily. Is there anything I can feed her to help it grow and make it stronger?

A: Just like us, horses all have different coat and hair characteristics. Some variation is normal, but if your mare's coat, mane and tail are noticeably more brittle than normal, it's possible that she's not receiving the nutrients she needs to manufacture healthy hair.

A balancer will help to provide minerals and vitamins, as certain minerals - such as zinc, sulphur and copper - are involved in the manufacture of healthy hair.

Vitamins, such as biotin, are also essential for producing new cells, including the ones that form hair.